Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-11-30-Speech-3-181"
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"en.20051130.16.3-181"2
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".
Mr President, I wish to congratulate the rapporteur, Mr Van Hecke, on the enormous amount of work done in relation to this report. The subject matter was difficult and complicated. It is to be noted that, in the codecision procedure followed in respect of this proposal for a regulation, there were intense negotiations which culminated, I am glad to say, in a compromise text which includes most of the essential key points.
In my opinion, the inclusion of the following points in the compromise text is of particular significance. Firstly, the necessity of vital technology transfer and technical assistance to countries deficient in national drug manufacturing capacity. Such assistance will help much-needed, long-term improvement of healthcare provision in underdeveloped countries. Secondly, the extension of eligibility to non-WTO members: such countries are just as much in need of assistance under the provisions of this regulation as WTO member countries. Public health concerns and disease prevention and treatment cannot be differentiated on the grounds of WTO membership. Thirdly, the extension of applicants to NGOs and international organisations such as the United Nations: it is well known that many NGOs and international organisations play a major role in providing vital healthcare services in developing countries. Their rapid involvement in fighting disease and poverty and eliminating human suffering, especially in disaster-stricken regions, is well established and in most instances it is more important and better coordinated than national government assistance efforts. It is therefore only logical that a request from an NGO acting with authorisation from an importing country should be eligible under these regulations.
Finally, although this regulation will no doubt help save millions of lives worldwide, I feel it has come a little too late. Let us recall that the TRIPs Agreement was adopted in 1994; the landmark Doha Declaration on TRIPs and public health was produced in 2001; the decision of the General Council of the WTO was taken in 2003 and this regulation will probably come into force in 2006. I wonder whether such a delay may have been responsible for much confusion, inaction and probably unnecessary human suffering in the developing world."@en1
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